Engineering topics

Swordy, S. P.

Publications and source records attributed to Swordy, S. P..

5 records

NASA NTRS2012

The Track Imaging Cerenkov Experiment

We describe a dedicated cosmic-ray telescope that explores a new method for detecting Cerenkov radiation from high-energy primary cosmic rays and the large particle air shower they induce upon entering the atmosphere. Using a camera comprising 16 multi-anode photomultiplier tubes for a total of 256 pixels, the Track Imaging Cerenkov Experiment (TrICE) resolves substructures in particle air showers with 0.086deg resolution. Cerenkov radiation is imaged using a novel two-part optical system in which a Fresnel lens provides a wide-field optical trigger and a mirror system collects delayed light with four times the magnification. TrICE records well-resolved cosmic-ray air showers at rates ranging between 0.01-0.1 Hz.

Wissel, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS2011

The Track Imaging Cerenkov Experiment

We describe a. dedicated cosmic-ray telescope that explores a new method for detecting Cerenkov radiation from high-energy primary cosmic rays and the large particle air shower they induce upon entering the atmosphere. Using a camera comprising 16 multi-anode photomultiplier tubes for a total of 256 pixels, the Track Imaging Cerenkov Experiment (TrICE) resolves substructures in particle air showers with 0,086 deg resolution. Cerenkov radiation is imaged using a novel two-part optical system in which a Fresnel lens provides a wide-field optical trigger and a mirror system collects delayed light with four times the magnification. TrICE records well-resolved cosmic-ray air showers at rates ranging between 0.01-0.1 Hz.

Wissel, S. A.↗

NASA NTRS1985

Cerenkov counters for high energy nuclei: Some new developments

A method to determine with gas Cerenkov counters the Lorentz factor, gamma = E/mc, of cosmic ray nuclei with high accuracy over the range gamma approx. 20 to 100 is discussed. The measurement of the Cerenkov emission angle theta, by use of a suitable imaging system is considered. Imaging counters, the ring imaging Cerenkov counters (RICH), were developed for use on accelerators. The image of off-axis particles to determine the amount of image distortion as a function of the direction of the incoming nucleus is examined and an acceptance solid angle, relative to the optical axis, within which the nucleus produces an image with an acceptable level of distortion is defined. The properties of the image, which becomes elliptical, for off-axis particles are analyzed.

Swordy, S. P.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The development of a high energy cosmic ray detector for Spacelab-2

A large cosmic ray detector aimed at measurements of the energy spectra and of the elemental abundances of cosmic ray nuclei at very high energies, up to several TeV/nucleon was constructed. The instrument is an electronic counter telescope with a geometric factor of 5 sq ster. It accomplishes measurements of the particle energies through the use of gas Cerenkov counters and of transition radiation detectors. The solutions of a number of technological problems that are encountered when developing such instrumentation for Shuttle missions are discussed.

Lheureux, J.↗

NASA NTRS1983

On the generation of delta-rays in detectors for high-energy cosmic-ray nuclei

A common problem in detectors for cosmic-ray nuclei is the generation of energetic knock-on electrons by an incident nucleus. These electrons may produce additional signals which can obscure the true nature of the signal from the nucleus itself. In this paper, Monte Carlo simulations of these effects are discussed in the University of Chicago CRNE instrument for Spacelab-2, and show that they do not impair the performance of the transition radiation detector as designed. Some qualitative properties of delta-ray effects are identified, which are of use to other experimenters in this field.

Swordy, S. P.↗